WORLD ARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 267, 10 November 1934, Page 9

WORLD ARMS.

BRITAIN'S MENACE. WOEFULLY WEAK. Other Nations Stronger Than Ever Before. MR. CHURCHILL ALARMED. n>Hid P.A.—Electric Telegraph- Copyright) (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, November 9. Sir. Winston Churchill, in a speech in which he reviewed world conditions, referred to the debate in the House of Commons on arms manufacture. He declared that a real inquiry ought to be made into the alarming decline of Britain's means of making defence "weapons.

Should danger come, he said, Britain Mas much less prepared than in 1914, whereas every other large country was prepared on a scale undreamed of at the outbreak of the Great War.

Every factory in Germany, France and ]ta 1 y was organised to turn over, in a few hours' notice from peace to war production, from sewing machines to machine-guns, from motors to tanks, from perfumes to poison gas, from chemicals to explosives.

The whole hideous process had been studied with infinite care. By pressing a button the whole of Germany could bo turned, to the single purpose of producing death-dealing machinery. This was not the moment to break down the few, woefully shrunken armament factories which had survived the long process of British disarmament.

It was absurd to suggest that armament firms ever influenced Britain's foreign policy. He added that Mr. Rauisay Mac Donald hud boasted that he had continually reduced defences and was hoping that others would follow. This had proved utterly wrong. Mr. MacDonald was now realising that a vast Empire/whose weak defences made it a prey to hungry rivals, was a new factor in European instability. Mr. Churchill stated that he intended to move an amendment which would give the House of Commons an opportunity to face realities. Might Tempt an Aggressor. "The League imposes responsibilities on Britain which will be fulfilled; otherwise the risk of war will be greatly increased. The Government, however, is determined not to increase its obligations quixotically, certainly not without Parliamentary sanction. "Some pacifists blame us for not taking steps which would quickly dot the country with munition factories and make the League an armed camp, bringing us swiftly into conflict with other nations. Our foreign policy will not be conducted thus."

Referring to the naval conversations between Britain, America and Japan, he added: "We desire agreement without jeopardising the safety of any nation or depriving any nation of necessary defence. Agreement among all the naval Powers, eliminating useless and extravagant building while ensuring security, would be a most conspicuous step towards peace.

"Meanwhile, if met by aggression, we should at least be able to defend ourselves. We have purposely risked showing the world an example in disarmament, although the other Powers' equipment would have justified our expansion. We recently investigated the resources of Home and Imperial defence, and the experience proved that in the world's present state, disarmament by example is an ineffective way of strengthening peace and might in some circumstances tempt an aggressor to attack.

"I believe the country will trust us to do what is necessary without embarking on an arms race."